Wildlife of Glengarry

Bird life:
In Lochaber there ia a chance of seeing the largest raptors, Golden and White tailed Eagles. Osprey are summer residents on many local lochs. Four miles from Craigard House a minor road leads down to Kinloch Hourn which can provide a fascinating days birdwatching, as the drive goes through many diverse habitats.

The journey will take in a variety of different habitats. Likely birds to see, depending on the season are: Shag, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Grey Heron, Golden and White Tailed Eagle, Common Buzzard, Peregrine falcon, Merlin, Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Raven, Hooded Crow, Wheatear, Whinchat, Ring Ouzel, Wood and Willow Warbler, Redstart, Siskin, Goosander, Dipper, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Scoter, Black and Red throated Divers, Snipe, Ringed Plover, Greenshank, along with common woodland birds and wildfowl.

Recommended reading is " Best Bird Watching sites in the Scottish Highlands" by Gordon Hamlett. The route described above is recommended in the book.

Mammals:
The Pine Marten, is widely spread in the area, seen most times of the day although late evening is the most likely time. We are regulary visited by Red Squirrels, which come into the garden for the peanuts. The area around Invergarry has been designated a Red Squirrel stonghold.
Red Deer are most likely to be seen on the road to Kinloch Hourn, where in the winter they come down off the hills in search of food. There are also Sika and Roe Deer in the area, Roe are present in the woods behind Craigard house.
Otters are present in the River Garry, but they're shy and are creatures of the very early morning. However otters are present at Kinloch Hourn and have been seen in mid afternoon in the sea loch.
Least likely to be seen, but Lochaber is one of its strongholds, is the Scottish Wild Cat, it is an elusive creature of the moorland areas. As they are normally nocturnal the best time to see a Wild Cat is in early summer when the females are out hunting in the early morning or late evening to feed her young.
Sea mammals such as Seals, Dolphins, Porpoises and occasionally Minke Whales can be seen from organised boat trips in the Moray Firth and the Isle of Skye.